Noordoostpolder (Northeast Polder), an area of 128,520 acres of fertile arable land, was reclaimed from the Zuiderzee, Netherlands, in 1940. On 23 January 1948 the Mennonites living there formed a Kring (circle), which in 1953 became an independent congregation. Services were held biweekly in a rented hall at Emmeloord. H. H. Gaaikema, the pastor of the Harlingen congregation, had charge of this congregation. The baptized membership in 1955 was 41, and in 1957 it was 60.